IMPROVEMENT OF MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITIES USING MISSOURI MATHEMATICS PROJECT LEARNING MODEL

Introduction: Mathematical problem solving ability is very important in mathematic learning, because is can help students to solve daily life problems better. But the students mathematical problem solve ability is not high yet, one of the factor is because many students only know the standard procedures of solving mathematics problems, and when the given problem are different from the examples they tend to give up easily. This comparative design study aims to find out the improvement of students mathematical problem solving ability using Missouri Mathematics Project (MMP) learning model with individual assignments and small group assignments, and to find out whether there are differences between those two. Method: The sample in this study was VII grade students at SMP Advent Cimindi and SMP Advent II Bandung, Bandung. The instruments used in the study are mathematical problem solving test and questionnaire for response toward the Missouri Mathematics Project (MMP) learning model as the non-test instrument. Result: The results showed that the improvement of mathematical problem solving abilities of students who obtained the Missouri Mathematics Project (MMP) learning model with individual assignments and students who obtained the Missouri Mathematics Project (MMP) learning model by assigning small groups was categorized as high. Statistically, there is a significant difference in the students mathematical problem solving improvement after being taught using Missouri Mathematics Project (MMP) learning model, between students who get individual assignments and small group assignments. The response questionnaire result shows that students who acquire individual assignments like the Missouri Mathematics Project (MMP) learning model, more further the students who acquire group assignments really like the Missouri Mathematics Project (MMP) learning model.